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Respiratory Health of the Nation

New2026 edition

Respiratory Health of the Nation

Cover of Respiratory Health of the Nation 2026

Report on the burden of respiratory disease in Ireland: how many people are affected, what it costs the health service, and what needs to change.

The first full update since 2018, covering fourteen conditions and population groups, from asthma and COPD to lung cancer, tuberculosis and respiratory disease in children and older people.

Download the full report (PDF) See what's inside
  • 14chapters on conditions and population groups
  • FreeFull report available to download

What's in the report

All sections are included in the full report PDF.

  1. Foreword Download PDF
  2. Executive Summary Download PDF
  3. Methodology
  4. 1Overview of Burden of Respiratory Disease Download PDF
  5. 2Asthma Download PDF
  6. 3Bronchiectasis Download PDF
  7. 4Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Download PDF
  8. 5Lung Cancer and Mesothelioma Download PDF
  9. 6Cystic Fibrosis Download PDF
  10. 7Interstitial Lung Disease Download PDF
  11. 8Obstructive Sleep Apnoea Download PDF
  12. 9Paediatric Respiratory Disease Download PDF
  13. 10Prevention Download PDF
  14. 11Pulmonary Vascular Disease Download PDF
  15. 12Respiratory Infectious Diseases Download PDF
  16. 13Tuberculosis Download PDF
  17. 14Respiratory Disease Burden for Older People Download PDF
  18. Appendix

To cite this report

Irish Thoracic Society. Respiratory Health of the Nation 2026. Dublin: Irish Thoracic Society; 2026.

Cover of Respiratory Health of the Nation 2018

Previous edition: 2018

Published in December 2018, the first Respiratory Health of the Nation report set out the impact of respiratory disease on the Irish health service, with chapters on eleven common conditions and on children and older people. It is kept here for reference and comparison.

Authors: Dr Máire O'Connor, Ms Eimir Hurley, Ms Suzanne McCormack and Professor Terry O'Connor.

Download the 2018 report (PDF)
2018 chapters
  1. Foreword & Executive Summary PDF
  2. 1Introduction and Methodology PDF
  3. 2Overview PDF
  4. 3Lung Cancer and Mesothelioma PDF
  5. 4COPD including Bronchiectasis PDF
  6. 5Pneumonia and Acute Lower Respiratory Infection, Unspecified PDF
  7. 6Asthma PDF
  8. 7Cystic Fibrosis PDF
  9. 8Chronic Interstitial Lung Disease and Sarcoidosis PDF
  10. 9Obstructive Sleep Apnoea PDF
  11. 10Pulmonary Vascular Disease PDF
  12. 11Respiratory Diseases due to External Agents PDF
  13. 12Respiratory Infectious Diseases PDF
  14. 13Tuberculosis PDF
  15. 14Paediatric Respiratory Disease PDF
  16. 15Respiratory Disease Burden for Older People PDF
  17. 16Future Direction PDF
  18. 17Appendix PDF

Questions about the report? Email info@irishthoracicsociety.com.